25. Mr. J. T. Priceasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that a reasonable allocation of vegetable oil requested by 2269 Allied Products (Bolton) Limited has been refused on the grounds that no similar allocation was made in 1938; and if he will reconsider this decision so that new processes beneficial to the economy of the country may be developed.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI understand that this refers to the use of an emulsion for greasing bakers' tins. I cannot find extra oil for this purpose, but bakers who wish to use the process can readily divert oil already allocated to them for tin greasing to this firm for conversion into the required emulsion.
Mr. PriceWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman reconsider this position and, in doing so, bear in mind these points: first, that this is an effort to encourage new industry to a part of the country which sadly lacks such new industry; second, that it is a clamping down on enterprise to refuse the application on a basis of the 1938 allocation; and, third, that this is an effort to introduce an element of cleanliness into the baking industry, which is now very unsatisfactory?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe fact of the matter is that the allocation of emulsion to existing firms is only two-thirds of their pre-war allocation. We have not the supplies at the moment to make the allocation asked for in the Question. But all the bakers who are using this machine can, to get over the difficulty, allocate some of their oil to this firm for making into emulsion. That would save oil and go some way towards meeting the hon. Gentleman's points.
Mr. PriceBut is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the firm which is trying to develop this invention, which will revolutionise a certain process in that industry, assures me that it is impracticable to act on the suggestion the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has made?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeIf the hon. Gentleman will send me details, I will inquire into the matter.